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New Zealand repeals world-first smoking ban passed by Jacinda Ardern
(www.independent.co.uk)
Reversal of smoking ban criticised as ‘shameful’ for lacking evidence
New Zealand is repealing the world’s first smoking ban passed under former prime minister Jacinda Arden’s government to pave the way for a smoke-free generation amid backlash from researchers and campaigners over its risk to Indigenous people.
The new coalition government led by prime minister Christopher Luxon confirmed the repeal will happen on Tuesday, delivering on one of the actions of his coalition’s ambitious 100-day plan.
The government repeal will be put before parliament as a matter of urgency, enabling it to scrap the law without seeking public comment, in line with previously announced plans.
It's been so disheartening to watch. There's apparently a large percentage of the world's population that is scared of every change for the better. Just absolutely driven by mind-numbing, counter-productive fear. And I don't get it.
I mean, come on, these are fucking cigarettes. There's no mystery, here, they kill people. They're a poison product, and the monsters who sell them are selling gruesome death. But somehow, stopping a business from profiting off of these horrible, unnecessary deaths is scarier than the cancer sticks themselves? Why? Fucking why? Is it because literally all change is scary, no matter what its nature?
I'm starting to think we're an evolutionary dead end. I don't know how we survive past this madness.
There is a nonzero population of people, all across the planet, across all cultures, that just don't like being told they cannot do something.
You could tell them that smoking is very, very bad for you, and they'll say "wow, no one should do that," and then you tell them that they cannot smoke, and they'll say "the fuck I can't!"
But in this case, it was telling cancer-stick merchants that they can't kill people, and then their victims rushed to their defense.
Yes, because those people don't like being told what they can't do. The thing they can't do, in this case, is buy cigarettes.
So what? If they were old enough to buy fags before the ban they could still do so. They argue that their children have a right to lung cancer.
They are also told to wear a seatbelt and don’t rail against that.
Some people do, actually. Look, I'm not trying to argue their position for them, I'm not one of those people.
It's simpler than that. Right wingers are just greedy capitalist scum.
I think that accurately describes the power-brokers, the ones in charge. But I think the people who actually support them are driven by - and easily manipulated with - fear.